Here We Go Again

To the Editors:

One hears that Ronald Reagan's victory involved no ideology [ELECTION '84, Nov. 19]. Yet his ideas led to prosperity and peace, two solid reasons for his 49 states-to-1 sweep. The President made several pledges in 1980 that he fulfilled, except for the budget deficit. This is another reason for the landslide.

Charles Wright

Bridgeton, N.J.

What a lesson Nov. 6 taught the Democratic Party. Perhaps the Democrats will drop the old liberal leadership that has brought them to this low level.

Rob Hartley

Montgomery, Ala.

Here we go again; another four years of our national soap opera, with Reagan playing the lead role. But how will the script end, with a whimper or a bang?

Jon Tofte

Tofte, Minn.

Now I hope we will be spared having the Carter-Mondale Administration blamed for all of our ills.

Mrs. Donald R. Grimes

Bella Vista, Ark.

The Democrats insult us by saying we voted for President Reagan because of his personality and not his policies. The American people decisively rejected Jimmy Carter in 1980 and in 1984 even more overwhelmingly rejected his clone.

Jon King

Anaheim, Calif.

One-liners and platitudes do not a President make.

Warren Lavender

Yucca Valley, Calif.

The greatest minds of the 12th century ran the Mondale-Ferraro campaign.

Edgar S. Spizel

San Francisco

Geraldine Ferraro in her campaigning came across as cold and harsh, while the phony, frozen, politician-type smile of Walter Mondale turned us off. Mondale's continuing criticism of success seemed to indicate that we should be penalized for being successful and making our own way in life.

James M. Johnson

Scotch Plains, N.J.

Reagan vs. Mondale. What an immoral waste of money to produce a foregone conclusion.

Jack Pettit

Los Angeles

Ferraro still emerged as a candidate for recognition as First American Woman of this century.

Ethan Grant

Salem, Ore.

The whole tone of your postelection hosanna may be wrong. The statement "For the first time in at least a dozen years, Americans were voting for rather than against" ignores many factors. The 41% who voted for Mondale were actually voting against Reagan deficits, militarism and callousness toward the poor. Conversely, those who voted for Reagan opposed a Democratic Party that they believe has lost its cohesiveness, direction and leadership.

Ian S. MacNiven

New York City

Like children, Americans follow the merry tunes of Reagan, happy to fall in line behind his winning personality, his waving of the flag and his avoidance of the serious issues facing the country. The Pied Piper has captured the hearts of the American people, but their minds are out to lunch!

David and Margaret Austin

Delavan, Wis.

I am moving to Minnesota.

Marian P. Franc,ois

Cambridge, Mass.

In California at 6:45 p.m., three major network stations were clearly saying that Reagan had been reelected. By broadcasting the returns, stations are hindering the election process and perhaps altering the outcome. There must be some steps we can take to change this situation.

Molly Barham

Sacramento

In defense of exit polling and early network projections, I consider my right to vote one of the great privileges of this democracy. The country does not profit from those who must either be begged for their vote or sheltered from early projections of the outcome in order to give us the benefit of their wisdom.

Stuart Seattle

Palo Alto, Calif.

Modern Manners

You had the courage to mention the unthinkable: manners [LIVING, Nov. 5]. As the mother of three children, I found your story gave me the much needed support and encouragement to continue my tireless nagging.

Beverly Anderson

Stillwater, Minn.

In spite of the fact that people are continually looking for a change, two things will always be appreciated: a feminine woman and good manners.

Robert Redford

Parlin, N.J.

I thought Leonore Annenberg, President Reagan's chief of protocol, was polite and proper when she curtsied to Prince Charles in 1981. Her gesture was gracious and dignified.

Kimberly Hendricks

Chicago

Even though I have lived on Long Island for ten years, I still long for the polite "Yes Ma'am" and friendly "Ya'll come back" of my native Memphis. I also miss the luncheons, teas and dinner parties that never went out of style down there. There is something to be said for a place like Memphis, where people take the time to mind their manners.

Joyce Davis Tyree

Centerport, N. Y.

The mannerless youth of the '60s and '70s have unfortunately passed their poor behavior on to their offspring. Young people today think that "Thank you," "You are welcome" and "Excuse me" are subserviences to be avoided. This samS syndrome is reflected in current advertising models. The sweet-and-lovely look is out; the tough-hooker pose with unkempt hair and sloppy clothes is in.

Harlan G. Koch

San Francisco

One month ago, my husband took to reciting table manners from the 1963 edition of Amy Vanderbilt's New Complete Book of Etiquette. Our two young sons howl with laughter when they hear how to eat bacon, chicken or spaghetti. Who knows, it just might sink in.

Jennifer R. Grebenschikoff

Tampa

Crime Busters

You are correct in describing President Reagan's new federal anticrime laws as historic and far reaching [LAW, Oct. 29]. But the criminal-law experts you cite, who express doubt about the act's effect on the crime rate, fail to recognize the practical significance of these reforms. The laws contain tough new measures to help fight organized crime and major drug trafficking, which have been estimated to cause as much as half of all street crime. The anticrime package also contains more than 50 new sections, many of which enhance local law-enforcement efforts. These include statutes providing for tough action against repeat offenders, a permanent toll-free number to help locate missing children, up to $70 million in direct aid to effective local law-enforcement programs, surplus property to increase state prison space, procedures for police to share in forfeited criminal assets, and as much as $100 million to help compensate victims. Perhaps most important, past experience has shown that such landmark federal legislation will serve as a model and a catalyst for powerful anticrime reform in the 50 states.

William French Smith

Attorney General

Washington, D.C.

Star Wars Defense

In "Star Wars: Pro and Con" [NATION, Oct. 29], you say that the best argument against President Reagan's space-based defense plan is that the system would have to be 100% effective but cannot be. The requirement of perfection is misleading. The key question: Shall we have an imperfect defense and save 90% of the U.S. from a Soviet attack or no defense and let the nation be destroyed?

Robert Raffealli

Goleta, Calif.

Armageddon's Arrival

Because he acknowledges the possibility of an Armageddon, President Reagan has been accused of being more willing to push the nuclear-war button [RELIGION, Nov. 5]. Believing in the inevitability of Armageddon does not automatically make one trigger-happy and dangerous. I accept the inevitability of death, yet I am not a careless driver. It does not follow that the belief hi a literal Armageddon has to be linked with a reckless willingness to enter a nuclear war.

Jack K. Arrington Jr., Executive Director

Houston Bible Association

Houston

Liberal interpreters of the Bible are quick to take as literal those admonitions that please them, such as beating plowshares into pruning hooks and peace on earth. But these same individuals are equally quick to label as allegory and symbolism all they do not wish to face, like Armageddon and Judgment Day.

Alice J. Kirby

Media, Pa.

Since when does Armageddon take place in this world? To be consistently literal we would also have to expect a dragon that would gather everyone for a battle in an earthly place called Armageddon.

Our Lord said his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Armageddon is therefore not a final battle in this world but a confrontation between good and evil people in the spiritual realm.

(The Rev.) Douglas Taylor

Bryn Athyn, Pa.

Bartender Priest

The social hideaway at St. Henry's Catholic Church [AMERICAN SCENE, Oct. 29] is meant for retirees who do not fit into Florida's singles scene or for people like me who are not looking for sex or drugs. If there were more priests like James Reynolds who cared about our loneliness, the church would not have so many apathetic Catholics who feel the church values them only for the money they put in the collection plate each week.

Martha A. Karol

Pompano Beach, Fla.

The world has enough trouble with alcoholism without the clergy leading parishioners down this road. If the Rev. Jim Reynolds wishes to be a bartender and entertain his flock, then he should give up his robes and replace them with an apron.

Ann Farrell Blunt

Creedmoor, N.C.

Publicity pays. The membership at Henry's Hideaway has soared to 700 of all faiths. The English writer Hilaire Belloc put it another way: "Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, there is always laughter and good red wine."

(The Rev.) Jim Reynolds

Pompano Beach, Fla.

Drunken Dads

Your reviewer takes Susan Cheever to task [BOOKS, Oct. 29] for emphasizing "the costs rather than the achievements" of life with John Cheever--a sensitive, talented, but alcoholic father. I am the daughter of an alcoholic fundamentalist minister who gave much to the world prior to his early death. Yet I question if this world might not be better had his four children not endured the awful duplicity required in such circumstances.

Peggy Ratliffe

Fort Collins, Colo.

Short Journey

A reader who described the magic of the number 40 says that Moses wandered in the wilderness for 40 days [LETTERS, Oct. 29]. The Jews never had it that easy: it was 40 years.

Sol Z. Abraham

Denver

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